Jewish tradition goes out of its way—way out of its way—to emphasize Ruth’s less-than-stellar family background. As an individual, Ruth is portrayed as a sensitive soul and earnest seeker, but as far as her origins, well, it really couldn’t get much worse for Ruth. She’s a Moabite. This is unfortunate, given that the Torah states in no uncertain terms that Moabites are forbidden in perpetuity from joining the Jewish people on account of their cruel treatment of the Israelites. (The particulars of the prohibition is discussed by later rabbis, but it’s not exactly an enthusiastic endorsement.)

Not only that, her Moabite roots make Ruth a descendant of Lot’s unfortunate drunken encounter, which results in the progenitor of the Moabite people. It keeps getting worse from here: Ruth is, according to the Talmud, specifically the granddaughter of the Moabite King Eglon, who is noted for joining forces with the categorically evil Ammonites and Amalekites to wage war on Israel. And Eglon’s grandfather? None other than Balak, infamous for hiring the sorcerer Bilaam to curse the nascent Israelite nation.

In short, Ruth is a member of a people noted for its flagrant cruelty, the direct descendant of kings who attempted to destroy Israel, and, more distantly, the product of a decidedly awful union.

Boaz, the Israelite who would become Ruth’s advocate and husband, has a less than impeccable family history himself—despite being, like Ruth, noted for his kindness and conscientiousness. At the end of Megillat Ruth, Boaz’s genealogy reveals him to be the descendent of Peretz, conceived through the morally questionable union of Judah and Tamar. Peretz’s very name means “breach.”

It is therefore surprising that Boaz and Ruth the Moabite convert would merit to be the ancestors of King David, their great-grandson. Since the Mashiach (messiah) is destined to be of Davidic descent, this makes Ruth the direct agent of Israel’s future redemption.

This serves as a powerful reminder to anyone who has struggled to feel a sense of belonging. Ruth is the consummate outsider. Yet, not only does she find acceptance, she claims her destiny at the very center of the Jewish story. It is not her impeccable lineage or perfect credentials but her sincerity, kind actions, and outstanding personal characteristics that distinguish Ruth for the crucial role she will play in the unfolding story of the Jewish people.

TAMAR MARVIN
Tamar Marvin is a student at Yeshivat Maharat and holds a Ph.D. in Medieval and Early Modern Jewish Studies. She has published and taught in academic and Jewish settings. In her work, her goal is to help people find meaning in Jewish thought and practice by giving them tools to access classical texts.